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Holiday vs vacation
In the US, vacation is time off to rest or travel, and a holiday is a special day like Christmas. In the UK, holiday also means vacation.
Quick rule
Your own time off or trip? Vacation. A day the whole country celebrates or rests? Holiday.
A special day when many people do not work or go to school, like Christmas. In British English it also means a vacation.
Time away from work or school to rest or travel, or the trip you take during that time.
Why it trips people up
The two words overlap because of British and American English. In the US, vacation is time off to rest or travel, and a holiday is a special day like Thanksgiving. In the UK, holiday is the usual word for a trip or time off, so learners hear both.
How each one works
Holiday
A major special day
Thanksgiving is the biggest family holiday in the US.
Asking if it is a day off for all
Is Friday a holiday? The schools are closed.
The December season
We decorate the house for the holidays every December.
Vacation
A trip to rest
We're going on vacation to Mexico in March.
Asking for and getting time off
My boss approved my vacation for the first week of June.
Being away on time off
She's on vacation until Monday, so I'll answer her emails.
What comes next
be a holiday: a day off for everyone
Memorial Day is a holiday, so there is no mail.
on holiday: British, on vacation
My parents are on holiday in Spain.
go on vacation or be on vacation, singular
They went on vacation in August.
take a vacation
You look tired. You need to take a vacation.
Set phrases
Holiday
- holiday season
- the weeks around Christmas and New Year
- holiday weekend
- a weekend made longer by a day off
Vacation
- vacation days
- days off from work that your company pays for
- vacation rental
- a house or apartment you pay to stay in on a trip
- vacation home
- a second house where you go to relax
Almost the same
We have a holiday on Monday.
Everyone rests; nobody chose the day.
We have a vacation next week.
These are days you took or are owed.
I'm going on vacation.
American English.
I'm going on holiday.
British English: here holiday means time off, not a special day.
In a conversation
- A:
Are you working on Monday?
- B:
No, Monday is a holiday. The whole office is closed.
- A:
Nice! Are you going anywhere?
- B:
I'm using Tuesday to Friday as vacation days and driving to the coast.
- A:
So you get a long weekend and a vacation.
- B:
Exactly. I really needed it.
Common mistakes
Wrong: We went on holiday to Florida last month.
Right: We went on vacation to Florida last month.
In US English, vacation is the normal word for a trip; on holiday is the British phrase.
Wrong: Happy vacations, everyone!
Right: Happy holidays, everyone!
The greeting for the Christmas and New Year season is Happy holidays. It is not used with vacation.
Memory trick
A holiday is a day on the calendar that everyone shares, like a holy day. A vacation is the one you take, when you vacate your desk.
It depends
- British usage
- In British English, holiday is the normal word for time off: go on holiday. There, vacation is used mostly for long university breaks.
- The holidays
- With the and the plural, the holidays means the end-of-year season, from Thanksgiving to New Year.
FAQ
Is it holiday or vacation?
In the US, use vacation for time off and holiday for a special day like Christmas. In the UK, holiday is also the word for time off.
What does happy holidays mean?
It is a greeting for the end-of-year season. It covers Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year, and other celebrations at once.
Do you say on vacation or in vacation?
Say on vacation: She's on vacation this week. Use in with a place: She's in Italy on vacation.